Cell proliferation, cell death, and differentiation in gliomas

Ellison, David William (1995) Cell proliferation, cell death, and differentiation in gliomas. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

Gliomas including the commonest primary brain tumour, the glioblastoma, are incurable; any therapeutic advances will depend on an increased understanding of their biology. Gliomas are currently classified on the basis of histology, but analysis of regulators and markers of cell proliferation and programmed cell death, and of the events surrounding tumour progression may provide additional information of prognostic value, allow a more rational use of conventional therapies, and will be invaluable for identifying new therapies in the future. This thesis consists of several studies testing the hypothesis that the biological behaviour of gliomas correlates with the expression of specific neuroectodermal proteins, cell-cycle markers, and genetic regulators of cell proliferation and programmed cell death. The expression of neuronal proteins has been observed in about one third of high- grade astrocytic turnours from patients who have survived 2 years beyond operation, at which time less than 10% of patients with these turnours are alive. The hypothesis that 2 groups of cerebral astrocytic turnours either showing or not showing a neuronal immunophenotype can be distinguished on the basis of clinical profile, prognosis, and incidence of p53 mutations was tested.

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